Air-compressor.



W, F. BLANCHET.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICAT1ON FILED JULY 17, 1916.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

LQQL13L Snow wow W. F- FQLHNCHET WILLIAM F. BLANCHET, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

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Application filed July 17, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. BLAN- oHE'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Tampa, in the county of Hillsborough and State ofFlorida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAir-Compressors, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in air compressors andhas relation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use in connection with motor-drivenvehicles; and it is an object of the invention to provide a device ofthis general character having novel and improved means whereby the samemay be readily operated from the drive shaft of the motor.

It is also an object of the invention to pro vide a device of thisgeneral character having novel and improved means whereby the compressedair may be held in storage so that the same may be employed, whenrequired, for inflation of tires; for the operation of a pneumaticsignal; or for other purposes which the requirements of practice maypermit.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved aircompressor whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view partly in sideelevation and partly in section illustrating an air compressorconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention- Fig. 2 isa view partly in top plan and partly in section of the air compressor asherein embodied; and I Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view takenthrough the tank, cylinder and piston as herein included.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, C denotes the chassis of amotor-driven Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 191W.

Serial No. 109,760.

vehicle and positioned therebeneath and disposed transversely thereof isthe storage tank T substantially cylindrical in form. In practice it ispreferred that this tank be po sltioned at a point substantially midwaybe- ;twelen the front and rear wheels of the ve- The ends of the tank Tare provided with the tubes 1 having interposed therein the controllingvalves 2. The tubes 1 are adapted to have engaged therewith a hose ofsuitable length which is also adapted to be operatively engaged with theinflating valves of a tire, whereby it will be perceived that whenrequired the tires of the wheels of the vehicle may be readily andconveniently inflated.

The tank T is provided with a safety valve 3 and overcome excessivepressure within the tank T as is believed to be selfevident. The tank Thas also in communication therewith a tube or conduit 4 in communicationwith the gage G which may be positioned to the dash of the vehicle or atany other convenient locality so that the pressure within the tank T maybe readily and conveniently determined. The tank T has also incommunication therewith a second tube or conduit 5 in communication witha pneumatic signal P of any conventional type and which is preferablyplaced under the hood of the car. The flow of the air through theconduit or pipe 5 may be controlled in any convenient manner.

The tank T is positioned above the transmission shaft S and extendingforwardly from said tank T in substantially vertical alinement with theshaft S is a cylinder 6 in communication with the tank through theopening 7 under control of the check valve 8. Arranged for rectilinearmovement within the cylinder 6 is the compression piston 9 havingdisposed therethrough the port 10, the inner end of which havingcoacting therewith the flat or check valve 12 for a purpose which isthought to be self-evident.

Extending outwardly from the piston 9 is the rod or stem 1 1 which isdisposed through the guide 15 operatively engaged with the cylinder 6,and the outer end of said rod or stem 14 has operatively engagedtherewith, and preferably through a ball and socket joint 16, a pitnam17 which is also operatively engaged, as at 18, with the disk 19, saidconnection-18 being eccentric to the axial center of said disk 19 for apurpose which is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention appertains.

D denotes the drive shaft of the engine or motor and which isoperatively engaged with the transmission shaft S through the medium ofthe knuckle joint K, and fixed to said shaft D" and in front of theknuckle K is the friction Wheel having its periphery rounded in crosssection and which is'adapted to coact with the disk 19 to impart therequisite rotation thereto in order to reciprocate the piston 9 so thatair may be compressed within the tank T.

Extending upwardly from the disk 19 at the axial center thereof is atrunnion 21 to which is swiveled, as at 22, the lower end of the footlever 23 which extends upwardly through the floor F of the car, and saidlever 23 is provided with the teeth 24: coacting with a plate 25 or thelike, whereby it will be perceived that upon depression of the lever 28the disk 19 may be frictionally engaged with the wheel 20 and held insuch contact. Upon release of the, foot lever 23 the disk 19 will beraised out of contact with the wheel 20 and maintained in such 0 mmtiveposition through the medium 0 the spring 26 as is believed to be clearlyshown in the accompanying drawings.

By having the periphery of the wheel 20 rounded in cross section it willbe self-evident that a perfect contact between the wheel 20 and the disk19 will be assured. This construction also compensates for the up anddown motion of the rear end of the vehicle should the compressor be inoperation while the car is in motion.

From the foregoing description, it a is thought to be obvious that anair compressor constructed in accordance with my invention is of' anextremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obviousthat my invention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutmaterial departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for thisreason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement andformation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

In combination with the chassis of a motor-driven vehicle and a driveshaft therefor, a tank supported by the chassis and provided with adischarging means, a forwardly directed cylinder carried by the tank andin communication therewith, a piston mounted for rectilinear movementwithin the cylinder, :1 wheel fixed to the drive shaft, a disk rotatableabout a vertical axis and positioned above the wheel, said disk beingcapable of vertical movement and adapted to contact with the peripheryof the wheel, a foot lever in swiveled engagement with the disk at theaxial center thereof and affording means for forcing the disk intocontact with the wheel, automatic means for moving the disk away fromthe wheel, and an opera.- tive connection between the disk and thepistonwhereby said piston is reciprocated upon rotation of the disk.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM F. BLANCHET.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. Bonn, H. G. TURNER.

